Whatas-Inside
Feb. 10. 2009
www. thevistaonline. corn The Student
oice of the University of Central Oklahoma Since 1903
Guns on College Campuses: Are state lawmakers just taking another shot in the dark?
Firearms bill sees new life Kory Oswald Correspondent
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An unidentified gunman takes aim at a target. Oklahoma congressmen are trying to revisit a measure to allow concealed carry on campus.
Oklahoma lawmakers are trying to resurrect a bill that would make it legal to carry concealed weapons on campus. House Bill 1083, a rewrite of last year's House Bill 2513, is Rep. Jason Murphey's second attempt to allow licensed students and faculty to bring guns into classrooms and other certain places.
Leadership staff brings fitness to the office
In an office found on the first floor of the administration building, something is happening that few would expect. Not only are the employees balancing ways to create, promote and support leadership development opportunities for faculty, staff and students, they are also taking turns balancing on a fitness ball.
"The legislation is ... bad legislation," said Jeff Harp, executive director of safety and transportation services. By allowing people to carry concealed weapons on this campus it will create a campus environment that is more dangerous," Continued on Page 3 A veteran of police duty on college campuses with over 21 years of experience, Harp is essentially the Miss Black UCO ready to chief of police at UCO, and he claims help with relationships that allowing people to carry guns on The audience erupted joyously see GUN, page 5 Saturday with the announcement of Nikki Webber as Miss Black UCO 2009. Miss Black UCO 2008, Raychelle Breux, asked each of the six contestants a projection question: What do you plan to do if crowned Miss Black UCO 2009?
Stimulus U.S. PROFESSOR OF THE YEAR offers options 4411for local students Caleb McWilliams suf/ft' rue,As the Senate prepares to pass its version of the stimulus package as early as today, many college students remain confused about the education-related aspects of the stimulus and what it means for them. The Senate's version of the stimulus bill differs from the House of Representative's bill in several ways, including less spending on education and more tax cuts. The Senate rejected many of the original package's elements, including $20 billion for construction and repair of schools and university facilities. However, the Senate's plan retains almost $14 billion from the House's proposed $15.6 billion to increase the Pell Grant and eliminate shortfall in the system, but reduces the House's plan of $39 billion in aid to state schools and public colleges to $26.7 billion. Other differences between the two bills include about $100 billion more in tax cuts in the Senate's plan, and elimination of up to $40 billion in aid to individual states from the House's plan. The Senate's bill, if passed, will need to be resolved with the House's bill before the final package can be sent to President Obama to sign. WHAT DO ES THESTTMULUS MEAN TO STUDENTS? The biggest change for students in both versions of the stimulus would be in the Pell Grants, which would be raised to a maximum of $5,350. The see BILL, page 5
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Saudi students celebrate for guest speaker
The ballroom in the Nigh University Center exuded music and culture from another part of the world last Friday when the Saudi Student Organization hosted a festival in honor of Dr. Mohammed Elisa, the cultural attachĂŠ to the Saudi Arabian ambassador, and his visit to UCO. Continued on Page 3
Gun Bill Reaction:
Hear response from faculty and students to the gun bill in a video at www.thevistaonline.com .
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Dr. Wei Chen, professor of engineering and assistant dean of UCO's College of Mathematics and Science and 2009 U.S. Professor of the Year, poses in his classroom. Chen was recognized for the honor at a presentation yesterday in the Great Room in Evans Hall. Accounting professor Dr. Robert Terrell and economics professor Dr. Mickey Hepner were also honored at the event as 2009 Oklahoma Professor of the Year and 2008 Oklahoma Professor of the Year, respectively. Each was selected from a national pool of more than 300 top professors.UCO is the only university in the country to have both a state and national winner this year.
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Liquid Assets with Caleb McWilliams
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Chartwells stops use of peanut butter Laura Hoffert Senior Reporter
Since the official peanut butter recall was made last week, Food and Dining Services at UCO aren't taking any chances on students getting sick. Greg Schwartz, director of UCO dining services, received an alert from the corporate offices of food service management company Compass Group North America and followed protocol in banning the sale of peanut butter products on campus.
"Everyday it changes, the FDA authorizes some foods then recalls others," Schwartz said. "We receive bulletins of cleared items everyday
From Vista finance reporter Caleb McWilliams comes a blog about the financial, political and other relevant happenings in Central Oklahoma affecting UCO.
and we maintain that list." Because the recall Inside the Lines with Chris is on a national level, Wescott peanut butter products have been banned until further notice. "Go into a grocery store and there's holes on the shelves where peanut butter usually is," Schwartz said. Sports reporter Chris Wescott brings Although there have you all sports, all the time, with Bronbeen national health concerns, cho scores, mini articles and quotes UCO has not reported any cases of from players' and coachs' interviews. salmonella poisoning. Snap. Crackle. Pop Culture. with Stephani Tobin
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Good habits result from resisting temptation.
Ancient Proverb
Stephani writes about day-to-day pop culture, new and old movies, shameless celebrity gossip, the music she has playing repeatedly on her iPod and her American Idol obsession.